Compost: Quality compost is made up of peat, elements for drainage like resinous bark and nutritive elements like manure

Rooting mix: Mixture of clay soil and water, sometimes with added manure. Can sometimes be found in powder form in the shops

Material for soil preparation: Spade, shovel, rotavator, plough...

Other tools: Bucket, watering can, secateurs.

Helpful items: Slow release fertiliser tablets, gloves.

Stage 1
- Soak the roots of your plant in a bucket of water to rehydrate them. If necessary, begin this operation 24 hours in advance.
- Make a hole about 40cm wide by 50cm deep. This will make it easier for your plant to establish roots.
- Mix the soil removed with compost to both aerate it and enrich it.
- Part fill the hole with this mix so that you are ready to put your plant in position.

Stage 2
- Sort out the roots: Cut back the roots with the secateurs removing any dead parts. This is done to stimulate the development of new small roots, which are important for the future growth of your tree or shrub.
- Coat the roots: dip them in the rooting mix up to the neck of the plant so that they are covered.
- Position your plant in the hole so that the above ground part is straight.
- Carefully position the roots at the bottom of the hole.

Stage 3
- Fill in the hole with the soil/compost mix.
- Firm down regularly thus eliminating any air pockets that are next to the roots.
- Use all of the soil/compost mixture; you should end up with a slight mound around the base of the plant.

Stage 4
- To help further, put a slow release fertiliser tablet at the base of your plant.
- Water generously.